“How?” Harper asks.
Collette turns and looks over at me. “We met in London. Had a one-night stand as I had to fly out to Italy. Never swapped numbers or last names, and the next time I saw him was in my apartment at my welcome party.”
Harper and Issy gasps.
“No, fucking way.” Harper bursts out laughing. “That’s kind of iconic.”
“It was a shock,” I say.
“So, the two of you have been seeing each other for months?” Issy asks.
I shake my head. “Technically, seeing each other is weeks, but we’ve been, I don’t know, trying not to cross lines since the welcome party.”
“She did try not to fall for him,” Collette adds.
“You really like him?” Harper asks.
“I do.”
“Then why all the secrecy if this isn’t a fling?” Issy asks.
“You have met our brothers, haven’t you?” Collette states.
“They would understand, especially with Harper and I on your side,” Issy assures me.
“But what about his team? They wouldn’t trust Emmett anymore. I can’t be the reason they lose their chance to win the cup. It would change the entire dynamic of the team.”
“Jo’s right. It would. And as much as I think the boys would come around, there’s still a chance they might not. So I get it,” Harper adds.
“They are all hanging out now, together,” Issy says, shaking her head. “Don’t you think they are going to be pissed about being lied to for so long.”
“Once the season is over, we are going to come clean,” I tell her.
“Is, come on, you know how this all works,” Collette tells her.
“I do. And I get it. Trust me. I just worry that things might be worse if you tell them down the track compared to now,” Issy explains.
“I can’t destroy other people’s dreams chasing mine.”
“Shit. You’ve fallen for him,” Harper states.
“I have. I’ve never met anyone who makes me feel like this,” I confess.
“Don’t forget you and Pierre dated in secret.” Harper smirks at Issy.
“That was different.”
“Was it though?” Harper teases Issy.
“Fine. No, it wasn’t. But I’m just looking out for you, Jo. I’m not raining on your parade. You deserve to be happy. I am worried about what will happen if this blows up.” She stresses. I get what she is saying.
"We know the risks, that’s why it took us so long to get together," I say quietly.
“They fought it, they really tried,” Collette adds.
"We've talked about it.A lot.But we also know what we have is worth protecting. Even if it means waiting."
"And you're both okay with that?" Harper asks. "The sneaking around? The lying?"
